The Grove Air Raid Shelter

This shelter was one of four that were used by staff of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway who had relocated to the Grove just before the declaration of war on the 3rd September 1939.

The shelter is made from precast concrete barrel vaulted panels that were crudely mortared together. It’s layout consists square blocks of passages linked together via another passage. Multiple entrances with steps provided access down into the shelter.

Within the shelter remains of signage can be seen, these signs are neat black squares with the bay numbers painted on in white indicating the different seating areas within the shelter. Also within the shelter is the remains of the seating benches, light fittings, toilet seats for the chemical toilets and pencil graffiti.

One of the most interest aspects of the shelter are it’s multiple entrances built from the same precast concrete barrel vaulted panels fitted together in such a way that they look like radios from the 1930s.